Disclaimer: If I owned Yu-Gi-Oh, then the rest of my 1001 wishes would come true as well…
Author's note: Hiya, everyone! No, this is not an update on "Secret Admirer". This is an introduction to my latest brainstorm. A love trilogy starring *drumrolls* my favorite pairings: Ryou(Bakura)/Anzu, Seto/Shizuka, and last but not least, Jou/Mai! -__-;; Okay, so Seto/Shizuka isn't exactly one of my fav coupling, but Anzu must go with Ryou or Bakura!
This is my first time attempting this sort of tricky storyline. So if I don't update for a long time, please don't chase me with pitchforks and torches. O_O In each story, I will focus most of my attention to the main coupling. If you want to read the stories of the other pairings (Ryou/Anzu & Jou/Mai) in detail, you'll have to wait until I start "Love Dilemmas" and "Love Problems". However, each story can be read on its' own.
Yes, I do know of the girls' age differences. Anzu is sixteen, Shizuka is thirteen, but since I don't know Mai's true age, I'll just randomly say she's nineteen. If anyone would inform me of Mai's age, you'll have my eternal gratitude.
This story is a bit of a tearjerker. For those emotional ones, I've warned you…
Title: Love Complications
Author: Deena
Rated: PG13
Genre: Romance/Drama/Angst
Main Pairing: Seto/Shizuka
Summary: Shizuka's POV – I'm having complications in every aspect of my life. From my family, my friends, to my academics. Worse, I have to deal with Mr. High-And-Mighty Seto Kaiba on a daily basis. He's so arrogant and self-centered and stuck-up! Plus, he insults my big brother all the time! How could any girl fall in love with a beast like him!? (A/U)
~ Chapter 1: Shizuka's POV ~
*Friends are ones who knows who you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still gently allows you to grow.* – William Shakespeare
" So, what do you think girls? Should I pick this one, or
this one?"
I stared hard at the two pairs of shoes Mai was holding up. One pair was red and the other was blue, but those five-inch high-heels looked alike to me. " Err…Mai, they're the same?" I pointed out.
Mai rolled her eyes. " No duh. That's why I can't decide. I like them both, but I don't have enough money to buy two. So help me decide girls. Which will it be?"
Anzu and I looked at each other and hid our smiles. We knew how absolutely serious Mai was when it came to fashion and clothing. Luckily, Anzu would usually come up with a solution to solve our dilemma. " Let's flip a coin. If it says heads, then it means you pick the blue one. If it says tails, then you choose the red one. What do you say?" Anzu suggested.
" Good idea." Mai pulled out her purse and we gaped at the amount of greens she drew out. " Mai, I thought you said you didn't have enough money?" Anzu queried.
" Of course I don't. I need to spend more money on my pedicure and manicure later this afternoon at Claire's," Mai replied as she rummaged into her purse. Anzu and I shared another incredulous look.
" A-ha! Found a coin! Okay, let's flip." Mai threw the coin into the air and let it fall to the ground. After a tense moment, the coin finally stopped moving to show… " Heads! The blue is mine!" Mai gleefully grabbed the blue shoes off the shelf and headed to the counter. Anzu and I sighed, rolled our eyes, then followed Mai not far behind.
Yes, this was how we spend our Sundays. Going to the mall with Mai. Usually, we followed Mai first to the clothing and fashion accessories department. Next, we would join Anzu at her favorite shop – The Dancing Melody. Finally, I get a turn to pick a place I wanted to go – the bookstore. We liked shopping together, although our taste in shopping varies. Mai is the model; Anzu is the dancer; I am the teacher.
Hmm…I don't think that's enough to describe us. Should I describe my friends in depth?
Well, maybe I should start with me. I'm the youngest of the group, being only thirteen. I have auburn hair – naturally long and straight with long bangs. I have hazel brown eyes and an okay face. I think it's a little too round. And I think my eyes are too close to my nose.
It doesn't matter. I'm not the kind of girl who spends a lot of time gazing into mirrors. Not like Mai.
Mai Kujaku is tall, skinny, blond and very hot looking. The guys all go nuts for her. They all think she's really sexy. And she slinks around in tights and midriff tops, even though it's fall or winter. She loves magazines, shopping and talking to us. I admire her because of her independence and iron-will. She knew what she wanted when she wanted it. She's nineteen-years-old and she tells us, once she graduates from high school, she plans on signing up to a modeling agency and become 'rich and famous'.
Anzu Mazaki is a sixteen-year-old, straight-A student and she's a really beautiful brunette. She's quite talented in singing and dancing and often participates in competitions that require these skills. What I like most about her is that she's very loyal and faithful to her friends. She dreams of one day becoming a professional dancer and works in Burger World to get enough money for a dance school she plans on attending.
I don't have plans for anything as glamorous as being a dancer or a supermodel. In fact, I'm not interested in becoming rich or famous at all. What I want to become is a teacher.
Yes, that's right. Laugh if you want. But it's true.
I often admire teachers. They're so patient, wise and kind. Well…some of them are. There are a few teachers who are mean to students. But there is one teacher who gained my admiration and respect since I hit junior high. Her name is Ms. Honey, the sweetest, kindest person I've ever met. I loved the way she makes us students feel at home and welcome in school. I liked the way she cared for us like her own children. Maybe part of the reason I liked her was because she and Mom were so alike…
Thinking about my mother, I felt my heart ache almost unbearably. My poor mom…at the hospital all alone…with those machines keeping her company…it hurt so much just to think about it…
" Hey, Shizuka? Earth to Shizuka? Come in, Shizuka!" Mai waved her hands in front of me.
I shook my head to clear my desolate thoughts. " Huh? Oh, sorry. I guess I zoned out. What is it?"
Mai raised an eyebrow. " I've been repeating the same question three times already. Do you think I should buy the 'Playgirl' or 'Girl Talk' magazine?" Then a sudden look of understanding dawned on her features as she stared at my pale face. " It's about your mother, isn't it?"
That was Mai. Frank to the core.
Anzu looked at me worriedly. " How is she doing?"
I lowered my head, hoping to hide the tears that suddenly welled up in my eyes. If it was one thing I hated most, it was showing weakness. I bit my bottom lip to stop my tears from flowing. Taking a deep steadying breath, I answered, " T-The doctor said s-she's stable. Whatever that means." If stable meant watching her take each breath so painfully, then I didn't even want to think what her condition was when unstable.
Anzu put one arm around me comfortingly. " It's okay, Shizuka. You have us. As long as your friends are with you, you'll manage to get by…somehow."
" Thanks, Anzu. But I'm fine. Really." Shizuka forced a smile on her face to assure them.
" If you're sure…" Mai quickly changed the subject. " So… 'Playgirl' or 'Girl Talk'? Come on girls. This is a life or death decision."
Anzu and I shared a look, then broke into fits of giggles.
They always knew how to make me feel better. If they ever had the cancer disease like Mom had, I don't think I could continue on…
* * *
I reached home by evening at 6:00 p.m. Oh no. I had been having so much fun with the girls that I completely forgot my curfew!
I always dreaded going home. It may seem like a warm and comfortable house in the outside, but inside, the household members were miserable. Partly because of my sick mom, and partly because of my dad.
Dad. My body trembled in fear as I stepped into my house, hoping against hope that my dad wasn't home. Or that maybe he was so drunk he was fast asleep. My wish was not granted.
Someone slapped my face, the impact so hard I was thrown against the wall.
" You imbecile! I told you to be home by four! Look at the time now! IT'S SIX O'CLOCK!!!" The cruel, accusing voice of my father assaulted my senses. My eyes glazed over as my head throbbed painfully.
" I-I'm so sorry, Dad. It won't happen again," I said softly, hoping he would stop.
But the look on Dad's face was merciless. " I warned you! I warned you about disobeying my orders!"
My eyes widened in fright. " N-No…please Dad. I won't…I-I promise I'll never be late again…"
" You promise? YOU PROMISE!?" Dad mocked with a sarcastic laugh. " Well, your promise isn't good enough. I'll just give you a good lesson and teach you to obey…" One look at the belt in his hands and I knew what my 'lesson' was.
" No!" I backed into the wall, my arms protecting my body against the lashes he would give me with his belt. " No, Dad! I'm sorry! Please, don't! I promise I won't be late again!" I whimpered piteously.
" LIAR!!!" Dad raised his belt and prepared to lash me…
" Stop it, Dad!"
" Jou, don't interrupt me or I'll punish you too," Dad warned him as he raised his belt again.
" NO!!!!!" My big brother threw himself on me just before Dad's belt descended. I didn't want to open my eyes. I couldn't stand seeing it. The blood trailing down big brother's back… He must be in so much pain, and yet he barely made a sound.
" You idiot! Move aside! It's your sister I want to beat up…" Then a malicious sneer crossed Dad's face. " On the other hand, it'll be like hitting two birds with one stone. If you want to protect her so much, then let's see how much you can stand."
WHIP!!!!!!!!
" WORTHLESS SHITS!!! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO LIVE IN THIS HOUSE!!!!!"
WHIP!!!!!!!!
" YOU'RE BOTH WEAK AND PATHETIC!!! SO USELESS!!!!!"
WHIP!!!!!!!!
" YOU LAZY NO-GOOD EXCUSES FOR CHILDREN ONLY TAKE UP LIVING SPACE!!!!!"
WHIP!!!!!!!!
STOP IT!!! STOP IT!!!!! STOP IT!!!!!!! My mind yelled a silent scream. His insults stung worse than the lashes. But my voice wasn't co-operating and a scream wouldn't come. I knew Dad would only hit us harder…
WHIP!!!!!!!!
" PATHETIC…"
WHIP!!!!!!!!
" USELESS…"
WHIP!!!!!!!!
" WEAK…"
WHIP!!!!!!!!
Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, the beltings ceased and I heard a door slamming. Dad must have retired to his bedroom for the night.
" Shizuka, are you all right?" My big brother's rough yet gentle voice broke into my thoughts.
I raised my head, my eyes now wide open. I stared at the blood…the gashes…the wounds… Poor big brother. I wrapped my arms around him, careful to cause him any more pain. " Big brother…I was so scared…and you're hurt so badly. I'm sorry I couldn't help…I'm so useless…" I sobbed into his chest, letting out all my tears of pain and frustration. Big brother was the person I loved most in the whole world, other than Mom. I felt safe and secure in his arms. As if nothing bad would ever happen to me as long as I stayed with him.
Jounouchi hugged me tightly. " It's okay, Shizuka. Big brother is here. I won't let anybody harm you. Not even Dad." He gently grazed my cheek where the imprint of Dad's slap still lingered. " I'm sorry I couldn't stop Dad from hitting you from the beginning."
" Don't be. You've done enough…" I smiled sadly at his torn flesh. " Come on. I'll get you some bandages."
I could see big brother cringe as he tried to stand up. His back must hurt a lot. Dad always hit the places where people wouldn't be able to notice the bruises. " Sit, big brother. I'll go and get it for you."
I walked to the kitchen, glancing briefly at the dirty dishes piled up in the sink. Nobody had bothered to wash them. And it looked as if the floor hadn't been swept is years. I opened a cabinet and found the bandages. I also had to get water to clean the wounds. As I waited for the bucket to fill, my mind began to drift away…to a happier time…when our family was still a happy unit…
*[FLASHBACK]*
Sounds of giggling could be heard as two children ran along the shore of Domino Beach together, laughing as the older brother tried to tackle her. They were playing 'tag-your-it', with six-year-old Katsuya as it.
" Children, don't run so fast! You might fall!" Mrs. Jounouchi called out worriedly.
" Relax, honey. It's just a little harmless fun," Mr. Jounouchi chided as he embraced his wife.
" I know. But what if – Shizuka!" Mrs. Jounouchi tore herself from her husband's arms when she saw four-year-old Shizuka falling into the sand.
" Ouchies!" Shizuka cried out, her knee bleeding. She screwed up her face and crystal teardrops started falling from her eyes.
" Shizuka, are you all right?" Katsuya looked at his sister in concern.
" I-It feels painful, big brother," Shizuka whimpered.
" Oh, poor baby. Here, let Mom kiss your boo-boo." Mrs. Jounouchi kneeled down and kiss Shizuka's hurt knee. The little girl's cries ceased to be replaced by a smile. " Thank you, Mom. It doesn't hurt so much now…"
" And just to cure that little boo-boo of yours, look what I've got for you." Mr. Jounouchi gave her chocolate ice cream – her favorite flavor.
" Thank you, Dad!" Shizuka was so happy she leaped into her father's arms. Katsuya was staring hungrily at the ice cream in his sister's hand. " Hey, Shizuka, could I maybe have…"
" Sure, big brother!" Shizuka handed her brother the ice cream. Katsuya immediately lapped it up like a hungry dog.
SNAP!
" Huh?" The Jounouchi family turned to see somebody taking their picture. " Sorry, I couldn't resist," the tourist said with a smile. " Here, you can have a copy." He handed the photo to the little girl who smiled as she stared at the picture of her family. Her father carrying her, her mother's smiling face, and her brother licking the ice cream beside them. I'll treasure it forever…
*[End of Flashback]*
" I wonder what happened to that photo…" I wondered aloud.
It's no use reminiscing about the past, a small voice inside my head told me sternly. You need to focus on the present: Namely, your big brother. I snapped out of my reverie and walked out into the living room, leaving my baggage of memories behind…
To be continued…
